The White Sox have traded left-handed reliever Tanner Banks to the Phillies. Philadelphia is sending 19-year-old infield prospect William Bergolla to Chicago in return.
Banks, 32, has been a solid middle reliever for the White Sox over the past three seasons, with a 3.89 ERA and 3.67 SIERA in 162 innings pitched. He has an unremarkable 4.13 ERA this year, but his 26.8% strikeout rate, 3.23 xERA, and 3.12 SIERA are the best marks of his career. Of further note, Banks has gone multiple innings in 16 of his 41 appearances this season. Matt Gelb of The Athletic notes he will be a multi-inning arm out of the Phillies’ bullpen and “could return to starting at some point.” The southpaw has also been a menace against same-handed opponents this season, with a 33.7% strikeout rate and a 1.90 FIP. Lefties have hit just .184 against him.
The Phillies had already made one big bullpen acquisition ahead of the deadline, trading for Angels closer Carlos Estevez over the weekend. However, Ken Rosenthal of the Athletic noted on Monday that Philadelphia was still seeking bullpen help. After adding the righty Estevez, it stood to reason they would seek a southpaw, especially given José Alvarado’s recent struggles. The move to add Banks makes even more sense given the news that the Phillies have traded fellow left-handed reliever Gregory Soto to the Orioles, which broke shortly after the report that the Phillies had acquired Banks. Soto has put up solid underlying numbers throughout his season and a half with Philadelphia (3.63 SIERA), but his 4.42 ERA over 95 2/3 innings pitched is less inspiring. Evidently, the Phillies decided they saw more that they liked in Banks. Not only does he have better splits against left-handed batters this season and a proven ability to pitch multiple innings, but as a pre-arb player, he is significantly less expensive than Soto and comes with significantly more team control.
Bergolla signed with the Phillies as an international free agent in January 2022. Entering the season, he was the team’s No. 10 prospect according to Baseball America and No. 13 according to FanGraphs. Keith Law of The Athletic was not as high on the young infielder, leaving him off of his list of the top 20 prospects in the Phillies’ system. Ultimately, different evaluators disagree about Bergolla’s throwing arm, speed, and power potential, but just about everyone seems to agree that his ability to put the ball in play is his most important skill. He had a 7.5% strikeout rate at Single-A last season, and he is currently running an 11.2% strikeout rate at High-A in 2024.
Robert Murray of FanSided was the first to report that the Phillies were acquiring Banks from the White Sox. Scott Merkin of MLB.com first suggested that Bergolla could be headed back to the White Sox, and Todd Zolecki of MLB.com later confirmed the report.
He has an era over 4
Whitesox most do
You having a stroke my guy?
His FIP is 3.28. He’s been asked to do a lot this year and hasn’t always been used in the right situations.
White Sox defense is terrible behind him too.
This is a solid pickup
And he pitches for the woe begotten sham Sox. Happy to see Soto exit.
Yea but his FIP is 3.28. It isn’t all about ERA,especially with RP.
I think Banks should do fine, he got hung out to dry A LOT by this Sox team’s lack of defense and his dopey manager and pitching coach.
this is one of the trades of all time
Oh great! DD is going senile and got the name confused and accidentally traded for Tanner Banks instead of Tanner Scott.
Soto gone is adding by subtraction. This tanner will do.
Good. It was strange to see a White Sox jersey with “Banks” on it, when Ernie is the All-Time Banks.
Ernie Banks never played for the White Sox.
Duh. That’s why I wrote “a White Sox jersey with Banks on it.”
Never mind, it’s a Chicago thing so it’s probably over your head.
No most of us think it was poorly worded at best.
Flaherty to Dodgers, Phillies not doing enough
Exactly. Dumpster diving when you’re trying to win it all ?
Dodgers still won’t win a WS this year
Good for the Dodgers, they have a healthy and proven SP now.
I really wanted Robert Jr in phillies red
Too much money…. but I’m glad we are having the bad month now. Team will figure it out and get set for the playoffs. They have a great chance and great team chemistry. I’m confident..but the playoffs are always unpredictable.
Not gonna lie , I would like to see us drop to the third seed and win the nl east. Then we dont have the layoff
Oh boy..that risky…. I’d rather have to win less games, keep the starters fresh, etc…. I’m just glad for the foreseeable future we have a solid team that should be in contention. Get to the playoffs..anything can happen. WE won a super bowl with Nick Foles after all looked lost….
I know that is risky but in 2008 they were the third seed & went all the way.
The Phillies will continue to see a plethora of southpaws. Dumbrowski left that gaping hole in this lineup.Go cheap at the finish line.
Wrong Tanner
So they trade for a guy on the worst team in baseball no one has ever heard of
The clock just struck 12 for Gregory Soto….
Thank the lawd!
I’d put money down that both pitchers that went to Baltimore will improve exponentially once they arrive there. Whatever their approach to pitching is there, pitchers consistently improve there (minus Jack Flaherty). I think the trades will look different end of year, a declining OF and always injured pitcher for a RH and LH power relievers who are on the fence of good/bad. I’m scared Baltimore improves them.
I think the Phillies will be happier with Tanner Banks than the Dodgers will be with Michael Kopech.
If you acquire 10 20 year old infielders maybe 1 may play in the MLB Getz.
Fair trade.
Big deal. Just more relievers for fans to cry about when they give up runs exactly like the relievers they traded away did. Only the names change….
Big deal. More relievers to give up runs to replace other relievers who gave up runs